Lender



S. SLOAN.

. FENDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2|. l9l9.

Patented Dec. 16,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

awwe'utoz S. SLUAN.

FENDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, I919.

1,324,936 Patented Dec. 16,1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

SAUL SLOAN, or HAMTRAMCK, MICHIGAN.

FENDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

Application filed May 21, 1919. Serial No. 298,622.

county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Fenders, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in fenders and hasrelation more particularly to a device of this general characterespecially designed and adapted for use in connection with automobiles,and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this generalcharacter which includes a foldable basket normally inoperative butwhich drops or opens into a working position upon engagement of thefender with a pedestrian or other obstruction.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improvedfender of this character including a normally folded basket held infolded condition through the instrumentalit of one or more latches andwherein said atch or latches are released through the medium of astriking member comprised in the fender.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved fenderwhereby certain important advantages are attained and the devicerendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient andadvantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in top plan illustrating a fender constructed in acordance with an embodiment of my invent-ion and in applied position,the basket being in open position, the operating circuit 1 or thelatches being diagrammatically indicated.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken through my improved fenderas illustrated in Fig. 1, the adjacent portion of the automobile beingfragmentarily illustrated in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the basket in open or workingposition.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view,

partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating in detail thestriking member as herein embodied with parts concomitant thereto.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, partly in horizontal section and partly inplan, of the structure illustrated in Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, partly in section andpartly in elevation, illustrating one of the latches as herein includedin holding or locking position, the section being taken substantially onthe line 66 of Fig. l. i

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, A denotes the front endportion of an automobile and which supports in advance thereof anelongated and transversely disposed bar 1 which extends entirely acrossthe machine. The opposite end portions of the bar 1 are provided withthe forwardly directed arms 2 of desired length. The arms 2 aresubstantially in parallelism and pendicularly related to the bar 1.

Connecting the outer end portions of the arms 2 and normally inparallelism are the tubular members 3 and 4. The members 3 and 4 areyieldable and preferably formed of rubber, although other insulatingmaterial which can be employed with facility may be substitutedtherefor.

Extending through each of the members 3 and 4. is a coil spring 5 whichoperates to normally maintain said member in substantially a straightposition yet permits flexure thereof in the event of an impact or otherforce being imposed thereon. The outer member 3 constitutes a strikingmember and the flexibility of the members 3 and 4 serves to preventundue injury, particularly when the member 3 comes into contact with apedestrian.

The opposed faces of the members 3 and 4 have disposed therealong thecontact plates 6 and one of said plates 6 is in connection with a sourceof electrical energy E through a conductor a. Interposed in theconductor a is a switch 7 for a purpose which is believed to be obvious.

Each end portion of the second plate 6 is in electrical connection withthe source E by a conductor 6 as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 andfor a purpose to be hereinafter more particularly referred to.

The basket B of the fender comprises bottom frame 8, preferablyrectangular in per- I yieldable material, and housed within each i form.The frame 8 is of any desired width but of a length substantially equalto the space between the arms 2, so that the end members 8 of said frame8 are in vertical alinement with the arms 2. Arranged within the frame 8is a fabric 9.

The inner extremities of the end members 8 are pivotally engaged withthe opposite end portions of the bar 1 and more particularly with thelugs or brackets 10 depending therefrom whereby the frame 8 of thebasket is supported for swinging movement in a vertical path.

The ends of the basket 13 each comprises a toggle member '1 operativelyconnected with an arm 2 and the forward end portion of an end member 8of the frame 8, so that when the frame 8 of the basket is raised, theend member will be folded accordingly and as is particularly illustratedin Fig. 6. It is also preferred that the forward extremities of the endmembers 8 be provided with the rollers 11 so that, when the basket B isopen, the frame 8 may readily ride over the roadway or other surface.

Each of the end members 8 substantially midway its length is provided inits inner face with a recess 12 in which engages, when the basket B isfolded, a latch let. The latch is is supported by the inner face of theadjacent bar 1 for swinging movement toward or from the end member 8 andsaid latch 14: is also provided witlran upstanding tail 15 operativelyengaged, as at 16, with the core 17 of an electro-magnet M interposed ina conductor 6.

Normally the basket 13 is folded or compacted and is maintained in suchposition by the latches 14. When the member 3 comes into contact with apedestrain or other obstruction, the same will flex inwardly, resultingin the plates 6 carried by both of the members 3 and 4c contactin Thiscontact closes the circuits for the electro-magnets M through theconductors a and 1), resulting in the cores 17 being drawn inwardly andthe latches released from the end members 8. Uponthe release of thelatches l-i, the basket'B opens mainly by gravity, but in order tofacilitate and expedite the opening of the basket B, I find it ofadvantage to suitably secure to the under face of each of the arms 2 aspring 18 which constantly exercises pressure on the adjacent endmembers 8 when the basket B is folded or compacted.

I also find it of advantage to interpose between the inner member a andthe bar 1, at the central portions thereof, the tubular members 19,preferably of rubber, or other of the members19 is an expansible member20, herein disclosed as a coil spring, and which spring has directcontact with the member A} and With the bar 1. 'By this armallyseparated, I interpose between the central portions of said members 3and 4:

and preferably in alinement with the members 19, the compressible blocks21, preferably of rubber.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that afender constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly welladapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which itmay be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that myinvention is susceptible of some change and modification withoutdeparting from the principles and spirit thereof'and for this reason Ido not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precisearrangement and formation of the several parts herein'shown in carryingout my invention in practice except as here inafter claimed. 7

I also do not wish to limit myself to the use of my improved fender inconnection with automobiles, as the same may also be readily employed inconnection with street cars or other vehicles traveling in streets androads or which may be employed in factories and in connection with otherindustries.

I claim:

1. A fender comprising a supporting member including a barprovided withfor wardly directed arms, a basket having a bottom member engagedwiththe bar for vertically swinging movement, and toggle members interposedbetween andconnected to the endportions of the'bottomniember and thearms.

'2. A fender comprising a supporting member includinga bar providedwith'forwardly directedarms, a 'ba'skethavi'ng a" bottom member engagedwith the bar .for vertically swinging movement, toggle membersinterposedjbetween and connected to the end'portions of the bottommemberand the a ms, and releasable means'for no anally maintaining thebottom member elevated.

3. A fender comprising a supporting member including a bar' providedwith forwardly directed arms, a basket having a bottom 'member engagedwith the bar for vertically swinging movement, toggle members interposedbetween and connected to the end portions of the bottom member and thearms, releasable means for normally maintaining thebottommemberelevated, a striking member supported by thearms, and means undercontrol of said" striking member for disengaging the releasable meansfrointhe' botton member of the b'a's- 4. A fender comprising asupporting member including a bar provided with forwardly directed arms,a basket having a bottom member engaged with the bar for verticallyswinging movement, toggle members interposed between and connected tothe end portions of the bottom member and the arms, releasable means fornormally maintaining the bottom member elevated, and means for urgingthe bottom member of the basketdownwardly when the releasable means isdisengaged therefrom.

5. A fender comprising a supporting means including a bar havingforwardly directed arms, a pair of yieldable members connecting thearms, opposed faces of the members being provided with contacts, afoldable basket engaged with the bar and arms of the supporting means,electrically operated latches coacting with the basket for maintainingthe same normally folded, and an electric circuit for operating thelatches, the contacts carried by the yieldable members being interposedin said circuit and normally separated.

6. A fender comprising a supporting means including a bar havingforwardly directed arms, a pair of yieldable members connecting thearms, opposed faces of the members being provided with contacts, afoldable basket engaged with the bar and arms of the supporting means,electrically operated latches coacting with the basket for maintainingthe same normally folded, an electric circuit for operating the latches,the contacts carried by the yieldable members being interposed in saidcircuit and normally separated, and means for maintaining said yieldablemembers normally separated.

7. A fender comprising a supporting means including a bar havingforwardly directed arms, a pair of yieldable members connecting thearms, opposed faces of the members being provided with contacts, afoldable basket engaged with the bar and arms of the supporting means,electrically operated latches coacting with the basket for maintainingthe same normally folded, an electric circuit for operating the latches,the contacts carried by the yieldable members being interposed in saidcircuit and normally separated, and yieldable bracing means coactingwith one of said yieldable members.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

SAUL SLOAN.

Witnesses:

M. L. STERN, J. SILBERSTEIN.

